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Internships: EPP Group offering opportunities for young people in EU and beyond

Kaja Sorg

12.12.2014 - 12:15

“One of the best ways for the country to move forward is through the education and training of young generations who are capable of understanding, confronting and resolving global, regional and domestic issues,” says Damir Glas, who comes from the heart of the Western Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina - a region that has seen both the promise of multiculturalism, diversity and the horrors of conflict and war.

Damir got his Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Dubrovnik International University in Croatia. Currently, he is doing an internship in the EPP Group Press and Communications service in Brussels.

Education and training of young people: an engine for success and growth

The EPP Group is committed to offering young people opportunities to gain professional experience and get acquainted with EU policy-making. It regularly offers 3-month internships to around 10 graduates.

One of the best ways to move forward is through the education and training of young generations capable of understanding, confronting and resolving global, regional and domestic issues Damir Glas

“As Brussels is the major centre for international politics, there is definitely no better place for a young, educated and ambitious individual to further enrich his knowledge and improve skills in that field,” says Damir about the reasons why he applied for this internship.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the highest youth unemployment rates of all Europe and the highest exodus of young people after Ireland. Damir believes that in order to attract investment and encourage growth, it is important for a country to have educated and skilled young people.

Young people represent the engine of society and that engine could help us get out of the crisis and drive our own future

“The success of our country and global society depends on young people who have understanding of new international challenges and the global and domestic solutions that can be applied to them. Young people represent the engine of society and that engine could help us get out of the crisis and drive our own future.”

gaining the professional experience necessary for starting a career

It is important for Damir to take part in the internship programme offered by the EPP Group. “Through these programmes we develop key competences that we can apply in our own countries,” he is convinced.

Through various programmes and projects the EU is committed to helping young people to learn and gain the experience they need to start their careers.

I think that Brussels gave me great international experience and at the same time I gained an excellent basis for furthering my career in the policy sector

“This internship meets my expectations in every sense. Firstly, I get a better understanding of how the EU functions in practice, especially the European Parliament. I think that Brussels gave me great international experience and at the same time I gained an excellent basis for furthering my career in the policy sector.”

Damir believes in young people: “There is so much that our generation of policy makers can do!”